Arkansas Water Quality Policy

Arkansas, the Natural State, is often portrayed as a state with abundant water resources.
However, the state has its share of polluted waterways, diminished aquifer levels
and water access concerns.

The Division of Agriculture's Public Policy Center promotes the understanding of federal and state water policy issues through research,
community outreach and public education.

What is water quality? The term "water quality" can mean different things to different
people. The most widely used definition is that water quality is "the chemical, physical
and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for
a designated use."

Water has many uses, such as for recreation, drinking, fisheries, agriculture and
industry. Each of these uses have been assigned chemical, physical and biological
standards necessary to support the use. For example, standards are higher for drinking
water than agriculture or industry use.

Current Water Issues

Arkansas Water Plan

Arkansas' water plan, a document that guides state policy on water conservation, development
and protection, was updated in December 2014 after more than a year of public meetings
and review overseen by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Recommendations
from the recent update will go before the governor and a legislative review committee
before any of them can be turned into new procedures or rules. For more information
on the state water plan, visit www.arwaterplan.arkansas.gov.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Plan

Excessive sediment, nutrients and toxic metals prevent many Arkansas waterways from
supporting aquatic life or other intended uses. The Public Policy Center has partnered
with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to produce the 2018-2023 Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Plan, which discusses threats
to 11 priority watersheds and action steps that watershed groups or industries can
take to reduce pollution levels. The NPS plan can be found below.

Arkansas' Impaired Waterbodies

Every two years, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Qualitycreates a list of rivers and lakes that have been tested and found to not meet water
quality standards for their intended use (i.e., not enough oxygen to support fish
life). This list, known as the 303(d) list, is submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency. The information gives state
and federal agencies, as well as interested residents, a better understanding of the
health of Arkansas' waterways and also a way to measure the impact of water quality
activities and projects.